Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd back behind bars after alleged assault on new girlfriend

Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd has been recalled to prison on suspicion of coercive and controlling behaviour and assault against a new girlfriend, police said on Tuesday.

Detectives arrested the 38-year-old in Southall, west London, on August 4 after a complaint to the Metropolitan Police. Officers said he was being investigated on suspicion of coercive and controlling behaviour and assault related to suspected offences in Southall; it was not immediately clear whether charges would be brought. The circumstances of his return to prison were not disclosed, and officials did not release further details about the alleged breach of his release conditions.

Shepherd rose to notoriety after a high-speed ride on a defective speedboat that capsized on the River Thames in December 2015, killing his date, Charlotte Brown. He was later convicted of the manslaughter of Miss Brown in London and of an assault on a barman in a Devon hotel who had refused him a drink, receiving a combined sentence of 10 years: six years for the speedboat manslaughter and four years for the glassing incident. He served exactly half of that sentence before being released on licence, in January of the preceding year, from HMP Dovegate in Staffordshire.

Under the terms of his licence, Shepherd was required to observe strict conditions, including restrictions on travel, until the sentences were fully completed in 2029. The recall to prison for alleged licence breaches would place him under the supervision again while authorities determine whether there were grounds for new charges or additional sanctions.

The death of Miss Brown devastated her family. Her father, Graham Brown, 61, said he believed Shepherd belongs back in prison and that the defendant showed no remorse for Miss Brown’s death. Family members have described the case as a lasting source of pain, with Miss Brown’s relatives saying they would never forgive him and that he posed a risk to other women.

The prison service declined to comment on the specifics of licence breaches, but a spokesman said the system “does not hesitate to send offenders back to prison if they break the rules.” Officials have also not confirmed the precise charges or the dates of any court hearings tied to the latest recall.

The Shepherd case has repeatedly drawn public scrutiny over the years. After fleeing Britain in 2019 while on bail, he spent about 10 months in Georgia before being tracked down by investigators and turning himself in to authorities in Tbilisi, an effort amplified by a long-running Daily Mail campaign. He was extradited back to the United Kingdom in April 2019 and appeared before an Old Bailey judge, who acknowledged the bail breach. Although he argued he had surrendered because of the campaign, the court noted the breach and subsequent legal actions to remove the absconding charge from his record were part of an ongoing dispute between British authorities and Shepherd’s legal representation in Georgia.

In the wake of his 2019 extradition, Shepherd’s Georgian lawyer publicly praised his client, prompting continued public controversy over how a defendant could be supported abroad while facing serious charges at home. The case has remained a touchstone for discussions about justice and accountability, particularly in relation to offences against women and the adequacy of parole-like releases for violent offenders.

As the Metropolitan Police and the Ministry of Justice review the latest developments, observers will be watching closely for any formal charges or sentencing tied to the alleged coercive behaviour and assault. The parties involved have not provided further comment, and the case continues to unfold as investigators gather evidence related to the alleged conduct during Shepherd’s licence period.